Dental Plan Comparison
If you have been shopping for a dental plan, then it is a good guess that you might not be clear as to what a dental plan is and how that knowledge would effect your buying decision. So, let us begin with some basic definitions.
A Discount Dental Plan is a nontraditional alternative to insurance. Basically, this plan is an agreement between a dental caregiver and a buyer, or rather, a series of buyers. The buyer pays the caregiver an agreed upon amount for certain services and perhaps, receives a discount on other services. The advantages to such an agreement are that there are no claims to fill out or file, no limits and no waiting period. This is really, the ideal way to go if only for the solitary reason that one does not go shopping for dental care until one needs it!
An Indemnity Plan is plan whereupon an amount of money is paid on behalf of a policyholder upon presentation of a dental bill. If you have an employer who is willing pay for such a plan, it works well in that the plan will pay for all or some of a final bill. You choose the caregiver.
A Health Maintenance Organization plan works much like a typical HMO. This is a plan where the buyer pays the premiums, selects a dentist from a predefined list and benefits are paid according to the number of policyholders that are seen for a typical period of time. This plan is not based on the actual visit(s).
A provider is the dentist or dental professional. A policyholder is the patient/plan member. Definitions aside, your biggest concerns are the resources that are readily available to you, which dental services you will require and what you can afford. Hence, your task becomes easier.
If your employer has a HMO plan in place and the premiums are affordable, considering your family size and finances, then buy it. If finances are your biggest concern, then you can surely find a provider with whom you can work with?
Otherwise, and for most of us, a dental plan is the way to go. And if you compare the major players (Aetna and those sold by ), the Careington / plan is the best plan. Side by side, this plan beats all others.
Every major procedure to include oral exam, full mouth x-rays, cleaning, filling, porcelain crowns, root canals and complete upper or lower dentures are much more affordable with the the Careington / plan.